Along the highway

The Blue Mountains Australia Supporters of the Camino’s next Pilgrims Dinner will be held at Glenella Guest House, Govetts Leap Road, Blackheath on Friday, May 26 from 7pm. It will be a night of great food and drinks, guest speakers, audio visual extravaganza, friendship and fun. Cost is $30 per person which includes a Spanish inspired meal, wine, Santiago tart, tea and coffee. On Saturday, May 27 there will be a training walk from 9am on Saturday and more Camino information and activities in the afternoon at Glenella. Bookings for the dinner are essential as numbers are limited. Email tony.jacques1@gmail.com or phone 0412 359 101. Details: bluemountainscamino.com or the Facebook page BlueMtnsAustCaminoSupporters.

What does it take to become a writer? Hear about the highs and lows, the laughs and heartaches of becoming published from a panel of acclaimed Australian authors at different stages of their careers and from different writing genres at Katoomba Library on Saturday, May 27, 10am-1pm, as part of the Sydney Writers Festival. Speakers including Malcolm Knox (The Wonder Lover, Summerland), Craig Cormick (The Shadow Master), Lisa Chaplin (The Tide Watchers) and Catherine Cole (Dry Dock and Skin Deep) will share the tips and pitfalls of their individual experiences and answer questions from the audience. Tickets are $20 which includes refreshments from the Blue Mountains Cultural Centre cafe. Details: 4780 5750 or book online at library.bmcc.nsw.gov.au.

Soprano Rachael Johnson and organist Michael Taylor will present a program of arias by Mozart, Handel, Bach and others as well as a selection of organ solos at St Finbar’s Church, 46 Levy Street, Glenbrook from 3pm on Sunday, May 28. Afternoon tea will be served. Cost is $15 adults and $10 concession. Details: 4754 1780.

Choral evensong will be held at St Alban's Anglican Church, Megalong Street, Leura on Sunday, May 28 at 5pm. All welcome.

Springwood Mens Probus Club elected its new committee members at the annual general meeting held in March. They are: Harry Klajman, president; Ellis Davidson, vice president; Tony Ellis, past president; Dennis Smith, secretary; Gerry Taylor, treasurer; Gerry Burton, guest speakers; Kim White, newsletter editor; David Burn, tours; Alan Cameron and John Cawley, house managers. Ralph Lewin was presented with a 20-year membership certificate at the April meeting. At the May meeting Alan Parkinson gave an interesting talk on train accidents in the Blue Mountains. Judy Martin will be guest speaker on photography at the June 7 meeting. Meetings are held on the first Wednesday of the month at Springwood Country Club from 10am. Guests welcome. Details: 4739 1472.

Don’t get ripped off when you shop. Fair Trading will present a free consumer rights workshop on Monday, June 5, 11am-2pm, at Community Connections, 114-116 Henry Street, Penrith. Consumer topics to be covered include knowing your rights, comparing prices, mobile contracts, being scam aware, NDIS contracts and services.  Lunch provided. Bookings essential. Details: 4721 0866.

Learn how the Red Cross reconnects families separated by war, disaster and upheaval during a free presentation by the Red Cross International Tracing Service on Thursday, June 22 from 2pm at Springwood Library as part of Refugee Week. Every year, countless families across the world are separated by conflict, disaster or migration. People suffer terribly when they lose contact with their loved ones and live with the uncertainty of not knowing where they are or whether they are safe. From battlefields to earthquakes; from post-war migration to social upheavals, Australian Red Cross has been helping to reconnect families for more than 100 years, working with a global network to look for missing loved ones, restore contact, reunite families and clarify the fate of those who remain missing. Bookings are essential. Go to any library branch or visit the website for details: library.bmcc.nsw.gov.au.